Its so fun for me to explore my city and get to know local spots whenever I get the opportunity. I already knew and loved The Impeccable Pig’s online boutique, but didn’t realize they had a few store locations. Lucky for me, they JUST opened a new one here in Atlanta this month at the Shops Around Lenox. (3400 Around Lenox Dr. NE Ste. #206B)
Walking into their store feels like you step into summer. Color happy prints and flowy layers galore. I got a little swept away with the decor pieces too. The mirrored wall?! You will want to have a seat, drink an iced tea, and feast your eyes on all the eye candy this store has to offer. Its in a perfect location too with it being in an outdoor shopping strip that’s actually enjoyable to walk around. (I avoid malls at all cost.)
They were so kind as to let me pick out this dress. Its non-maternity but going a size up fit the bump. I am surviving in maxi dresses. Can’t wait to go back post baby and pick up that crochet number. If there isn’t a location near you, have fun checking out their site!
I know it is so hard to be motivated to get dressed or make the effort when you are expecting. Especially on this last stretch that I am on. That is why I took the opportunity to work with Paula of Tres Chic Mama (a pretty cool blog dedicated JUST to maternity fashion. A dream come true for mamas to be!) She has incredible taste too. We styled 7 looks from some of the best maternity lines on the market.
Today, we are sharing the Hatch Collection looks. Visit Tres Chic Mama to see how I styled a few of my favorite Hatch pieces and for full outfit details! We hope this helps with getting ideas with your current or next baby bump.
Hope you all had the best long weekend. I didn’t want ours to end!
Poppytalk is one of my very favorite art and design blogs that I have loved and followed faithfully for years. I am so honored to be a guest blogger this weekend and share this Anthropologie inspired DIY. Head on over for the full and EASY details for the Wood BeadedTassel Necklace. Thank you Jan for having me! And thanks to my beautiful sister Jana for modeling:)
These are the long weekend plans in photos. We have some sunny days and good food in the forecast. What about you?
Thankful always for those who fight for our country’s freedom and allow us to have weekends of peace such as this. There have been so many who have suffered this year in America. There has been so much pain in the soul and surface of this nation. However, one thing we continue to all fight vigorously for and maintain is freedom. The freedom to worship, speak, live, and own our own space. This is in large part through the blood sweat and tears of our military and their families. Thankful to be a part of this sweet land of liberty.
Summer seems to be a pivotal changing point in people’s life. I high point and turning point of the year.
Each one has been drastically different for me. Growing up they seemed ages long, but since college they fly with flaming colors, and each has had its own tale to tell.
This summer, I know will have its own story. My main goal? To have this baby…. and then enjoy that baby with Gabe and my children. I think the rest of the adventures that will come will be side effects of this life event.
What about you? What do you hope your summer story will be?
After spending a weekend with my sisters, I realized we each still have a funny perception of ourselves and the flaws we have. As women, well actually, as human beings we all have flaws. Both interior and exterior. We are made perfect in God’s image, but in our own image we are skewed. Sometimes our interior confidence weighs heavy in the way we portray our exterior confidence, and on the contrary, sometimes our exterior insecurities can deeply affect our spirit.
I have freckles galore on my face. I also have scars. Two of them. One on my upper lip when I split it open at age 8, and the other on my chin when I fell down the stairs at 3 yrs old. I was holding onto a cross tightly, and it rammed into my chin. These might each be considered facial “flaws” but they have been a part of me for so long, I don’t think I would recognize myself without them. I went through a phase of trying all the best concealers to minimize the appearance of my freckles and scars, but after I met my husband, he would frequently comment about how much he loved them. I also realized my mother has freckles, and I think she is one of the most beautiful women I know, so now I OWN my freckles proudly. Maybe it takes just one person to sincerely tell you that you are beautiful to really change your perspective of yourself (maybe it doesn’t hurt when its someone you love and respect too).
It also just takes one person to remind you that beauty is far deeper than surface level. Don’t you find that you love being around people who have a confident and positive attitude? Who see people beyond what meets the eye? I have a few friends like this that I am blessed to know. It makes me sad when a group of women stands around and belittles their body image. We could really use that time to talk about anything other than image. Maybe the Encourage Beauty campaign and the Dove Beauty campaign (whether it was a good one or not) is the reason why this has been on my mind so much these past few months. My friends and I used to have a group blog called OWN IT. It was all about taking our femininity for all that it is and making the most of it.
So here’s my challenge to you.Name your scars and flaws. I thought it would be good to start a little wave of owning your flaws confidently. I am sharing mine publicly here on a lifestyle blog. This doesn’t mean you have to do the same, but what can you do to take those interior or exterior insecurities and start to accept them? The interior ones are much harder to acknowledge, but maybe if you start with the surface level, you will find yourself going much deeper than you anticipated. OWN those surface level scars and find a way to see that they are a part of you. Maybe even let them show. Sometimes a little vulnerability is what we need. I have stopped concealing mine. Its good for each other to know we are ALL flawed (okay maybe not Halle Berry, but you get the idea…;)) and in our imperfection we can find a very deep level of real untouched beauty that is unique only to each individual.
I would love to hear or see your thoughts on this!
If you do choose to share a photo, tweet, or post about this topic, please hashtag #ownyourscars so we can encourage each other and uplift. (Always my goal!)
I am thoroughly wiped out from a weekend of non-stop crazy fun in Nashville for a sister weekend. Some of you already got a good preview on instagram. 5 out of us 8 sisters were able to go, and our dear friends (who are also 3 sisters) met us there. My feet are swollen from dancing, and my eyes are puffy from lack of sleep. It was grand to say the least. What is so cool about sisters and close friends, is picking up right where you left off, being on the exact same page, and having an unspoken understanding of each other. We like to call these sort of friendships kindreds. My heart is so full…
Highlights:
Dinner with live music at Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant in a giant booth under Willie Nelson. Had the best pulled pork I have ever tasted (next to my grandpa’s).
Getting ready in the hotel room….57 times…with all the girls- trading clothes, giving outfit advice, and catching up on serious life events at the same time.
Laughing to the point of tears (haven’t done this since the last time I was with them..).
Getting to meet my nephew Isaac for the first time. We couldn’t get enough of him.
Shopping in the Hillsboro area in the sunshine that was not supposed to exist that day.
Cruising to high school favorite tunes with my high school best friend….windows down, on full blast, with some serious car dance moves.
Sushi by the pool, and wondering how we all made it there.
Dinner at a true Southern experience. A white mansion on acres of greenery. Fried chicken with all the fixings served in bowls and passed around a giant wooden table. The house was out of a movie…giant chandeliers and wrap around stairwells with a large front porch for post dinner conversation. It reminded us of Gone With the Wind.
Line Dancing the night away at Wild Horse Saloon. I am sure I scandalized many as I whipped my baby belly around the dance floor with no precaution. I may be a little sore today, but it went down as one of the best memories of 2013.
Brunch after Sunday Mass – A tradition in both of our families. It was the perfect closure to the weekend.
And a fun little video to preview the party my sisters bring wherever we go!
Someday, we will all live in the same state, but for now, I am grateful we had the opportunity to be together for these few days.
